Sash-balance.



g E. s. HOPKINS.

SASH BALANCE.

APPLICATION FlLED APR. l4. I917.

1;,E56A3, Patented Feb.12,1918.

ATTORNEY nrrrr snares earners? EPHRAIM S. HOPKINS, 0F TACOMA, WASHINGTON, ASSIGNCR 01E ONE-THIRD TO EMMA GRINNELL, 0F TACOMA, WASHINGTON.

SASH-BALANCE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 12, 1918.

Application filed April 14, 1917. Serial No. 162,085.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EPHRAIM S. HOPKINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Tacoma,'in the county of Pierce and State of Washington, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Sash-Balances, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to hardware, and more particularly to sash balances.

The object of the invention is to so construct a device of this character that it will have a maximum efficiency with a minimum cost, and by the use of which the cost of hanging windows is reduced to one-half or less.

Another object is to produce a device of this character which dispenses with the use of springs, weights and cords and yet permits the window equipped therewith to move easily up and down requiring the exertion of very little strength to accomplish this movement.

WVith the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed may be made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 represents a front elevation of a window equipped with this improvement, parts being broken out,

Fig. 2 is a detail perspective view of one end of one of the rods forming a part of this improved sash balance, and

Fig. 3 is a similar view showin a portion of one of the rods and the sasTi carrying plug used in connection therewith.

In the embodiment illustrated, a window having the usual upper and lower sash S is shown, said sash having the ordinary grooves G formed in its side edges and which ordinarily are designed to receive the cords or chains used in connection with sash balances.

The balance constituting this invention comprises a pair of spirally grooved rods 1 which are exactly alike in construction and hence one only will be described in detail. It is to be understood that each sash is equipped with two of these rods and that the rods are concealed between the sash and the frame, being housed in the grooves G of the sash, which as above stated, are ordinarily used to house cords or chains. These rods 1 extend the full length of the window frame, from the underside of the header thereof to the upper side of the sill, and their upper portions are provided with spiral grooves 2, the turns of the spirals beprovided with cup-like apertures or sockets 6 to receive the ends of the rod, said sockets being about three sixteenths of an inch deep so that the ends of the rods may be retained in position and not rest on the wood of the frame, hence these plates perform a double function, as rod retainers and as wear plates. These plates are preferably constructed as shown in Fig. 2 with the socket 6 which receives the rod disposed close to the jamb of the window frame and they are held in position preferably by two small screws. The

rods are preferably about one eighth of an inch shorter than the distance between the header and the sill of the frame and are positioned for use in the manner presently to be described.

Each sash S has inserted inits opposite edges in the inner walls of the grooves thereof, two plugs as 7. These plugs are about three quarters of an inch in circumference more or less and are designed to fit in sockets in the sash to a depth of about one inch beyond the inner wall of the groove. An apertured plate 8 projects from the front end of each of these plugs 7 and is about one inch wide more or less, the aperture 9 therein being designed for the passage therethrough of one of the rods 1. This plate 8 is designed to project into the groove of the sash with its outer end disposed flush with the side edge of the sash.. Each plug has a screw threaded bore 10 extending longitudinally therethrough to receive a set screw 11 ltlll into the spiral groove-'2 of rod land to fa-' which is disposed in said bore before the plug is inserted in the sash and one end of which projects through the front end of the bore into the aperture 9 in plate 8, as is shown clearly in Fig. 3, said end 12' being preferably rounded and adapted to extend cilitate the movement of the rod relatively thereto and by means of which the rod is caused to turn when the sash ismoved up or down. I

' It will thus be seen that when the window is equipped with these rods, the sash will work freely and may beeasily moved up or down and willremain in the position in 'WhlCll 1t is placed until sufficlent force is exerted thereon to lower orraise it. The operation of-the sash is very similar to a sashequipped with weights and'yet dispenses with all of the annoyances incident to breakage and repairs of cords and weights which are ordinarily used as sash balances: Moreover, a window equipped withthis invention may be hung in about one third of the time required for hanging a window using cords and weights as sash balances.

In applying these rods for use as above stated, they are preferably cut aboutone eighth of an inch shorter than the distance between the header-and sill of the window frameto which they-are to be applied, and one end of the rodis passed through the aperture 9 in plate 8 of plug 7 from thebottom up, and said rod is moved upwardly through said aperture? as far as the spiral. Then the top plate 3 is engaged with the up- 7 per endof the rod 1 and the sash is placed within the frame and the top plate-secured by serewsorin'any suitable manner.- The lowerend of the rodis then pulled outa sufficient distance to permit the bottom plate 3 to be-sli-ppedinto position and the rod is pushed inw-ard into the groove inthe sash and the plate 3 secured to the sill. It will thus be seen that the window'may be hung in avery short time and when so hung. that the sash may be easily moved upand down on sand rods and =W1ll 1'eII1a1I1 1n any, position in which they are placed "until forcibly removed.

It will thus be seen that each window having two sashes when equipped with this in-V vention is provided with four of the rods 1, two being employed for each sash, four of the plugs 7 and eight plates 3, andthe plugs 7 are preferably disposed near the upper ends of the lower sash and similarly positioned' on the upper sash. 7

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method ofoperation will be readilyapparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention app'ertains and while I have described the principle of operation of the invention together with the device which I now consider to be' the best embodiment thereof, I desire to have it understood that r ,therethrough and communicatingwith the aperture in said'plate, screw inserted in said bore with one end projecting into said plate aperture, said end beingrounded, a spirally grooved rod rotatably mounted in said frame and housed inthe'groov'e'of said sash and extending through theapertured plate with'the rounded end of said screw en'- gaging with said spiral roove: g

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses; v p 7 V p EPHRAIM"S. HOPKINS. Witnesses:

ELI P. Nonroiv, Joan "E. Neuron;

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